His Take/Her Take: 2009 Oscars

Worth the price of admission, or a waste of time? Brian McKechnie and Suzanne Ellis offer you their take on the latest movies hitting screens. Read their reviews every Friday, exclusively on CityNews.ca.

Let Brian and Suzanne know what you think of His Take/Her Take via email at brian.mckechnie@citynews.ca or suzanne.ellis@citynews.ca .

We’re taking the week off from reviewing a new film to take a look at the 2009 Oscar nominees. Without further ado here are our picks for the top categories (full list of categories and nominees can be found here). Check back on Monday to see how we did.

Actor in a Leading Role

Nominees

Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Brian’s Take

Who Will Win: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Who Should Win: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Wild Card: Sean Penn, Milk

Seeing as he’s been cleaning up at all the other award ceremonies for his portrayal of Randy ‘the Ram’ in The Wrestler I think it’s a safe bet Mickey Rourke will be taking home the Oscar. Sean Penn is a very close contender for his role as the gay congressman Harvey Milk and the Academy could throw us a surprise here (but I doubt it).

Suzanne’s Take

Who Will Win: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Who Should Win: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Wild Card: Richard Jenkins, The Visitor

This is Mickey Rourke’s year. I read somewhere, and I think it’s an apt observation, that rarely has an actor seemed so suited to a particular role at a particular time. Rourke, the Hollywood comeback kid, is perfectly cast as The Wrestler’s washed-up Randy ‘the Ram’ and his performance is heartbreakingly good. I don’t see anyone else stealing his thunder on Oscar night – Sean Penn’s won before, for Mystic River, so I don’t see him getting a second nod for Milk. The surprise nominee in this category is The Visitor’s Richard Jenkins, so there’s an outside chance he could stage a major upset. But the chances are slim.

Actress in a Leading Role

Nominees

Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Brian’s Take

Who Will Win: Kate Winslet, The Reader

Who Should Win: Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married

Wild Card: Meryl Streep, Doubt

Since Kate Winslet is nominated for The Reader instead of Revolutionary Road I have to say Anne Hathaway is more deserving of the Oscar. Her role as the recovering drug addict sister in Rachel Getting Married was so real and raw it changed my entire outlook on her as an actress. Meryl Streep is an Academy favourite (nominated fifteen times, won twice) and it wouldn’t be much of a shock to hear her name called on Oscar night though.

Suzanne’s Take

Who Will Win: Kate Winslet, The Reader

Who Should Win: Kate Winslet, The Reader

Wild Card: Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married

I don’t care what film Kate Winslet is nominated for, she’s earned her Oscar. Many times a nominee, never a winner, Winslet has compiled an incredible body of work over the years — Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Finding Neverland, Sense and Sensibility, Little Children, to name but a few. She turned in two of the year’s best performances, in Revolutionary Road and The Reader, and could easily have been nominated in this same category for the former film. I think this year she’ll finally reach the podium, which is a shame for Anne Hathaway, who delivered a revelatory turn as a recovering addict in Rachel Getting Married, one of the year’s best films and one severely overlooked by the Academy.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Nominees

Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

Brian’s Take

Who Will Win: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Who Should Win: Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder

Wild Card: Josh Brolin, Milk

Heath Ledger was on his way to becoming one of the greatest actors of our generation before his untimely death. His wild take on The Joker in The Dark Knight was fascinating to watch (and better than Nicholson’s in my opinion) but that doesn’t mean he deserves an Oscar for it. Many actors have been looked over at the Oscars for great work as the “evil villain” (Ted Levine’s Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs is a great example). Robert Downey Jr. on the other hand could have destroyed his entire career by playing a character in black face for Tropic Thunder. He’s also proven his acting chops over the years and IS one of our greatest actors (even with his personal problems). Josh Brolin was shunned by the Academy last year for both No Country For Old Men and American Gangster (he wasn’t even nominated) so they could make up for it with the award this year.

Suzanne’s Take

Who Will Win: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Who Should Win: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Wild Card: Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder

I’m not ashamed to say I enjoyed Robert Downey Jr.’s performance in Tropic Thunder more than any single other this year. His portrayal of a Russell Crowe-esque actor playing a black sergeant in the ‘most expensive war movie of all time’ was brilliant, hilarious, and a testament to his skills as an actor. I’ve always known RDJ was talented but he’s really shown his versatility in recent years with a string of strong performances ( Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Zodiac, Iron Man). That said, no one is taking this statuette from Heath Ledger, who was chilling as The Joker in The Dark Knight. His final completed role will turn out to be the one he’s most remembered for, and rightly so.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Nominees

Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

Brian’s Take

Who Will Win: Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

Who Should Win: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Wild Card: Amy Adams, Doubt

If Penelope Cruz actually wins this category (deservedly so) for her work as the crazy artist/muse in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona I’ll be shocked. Unfortunately the Academy will most likely stick with the tried and true and reward Marisa Tomei with another Oscar she doesn’t deserve. Amy Adams could pull off a surprise win but it’s very unlikely.

Su
zanne’s Take

Who Will Win: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Who Should Win: Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married – not nominated

Wild Card: Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Toronto Film Critics Association got it right in naming Rosemarie DeWitt as their pick for the year’s top performance by an actress in a supporting role – as Rachel in Rachel Getting Married, she has the tougher role to play as the ‘good’ sister to Anne Hathaway’s black sheep Kym. Kym, a recovering drug addict, is the showier role. The Rachel character is all contained emotion and anxiety, which DeWitt captures perfectly. Sadly, she didn’t even receive a nomination. So, I see the award going to Penelope Cruz, who was admittedly excellent in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. As a mad artist, she eats up every scene she’s in. If she doesn’t get it, Taraji P. Henson just might for her stirring turn in The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button.

Best Director

Nominees

David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Brian’s Take

Who Will Win: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Who Should Win: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Wild Card: Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon

No doubt Danny Boyle will take home this prize for Slumdog Millionaire. It was an amazing feat for a director to pull off and has got the entire world talking about and enjoying it. If the Academy really is playing it safe for ratings America’s favourite child star-turned-director Ron Howard winning for Frost/Nixon wouldn’t be much of a stretch.

Suzanne’s Take

Who Will Win: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Who Should Win: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Wild Card: Gus Van Sant, Milk

I really don’t see anyone but Boyle getting this, and I hope he does. He hasn’t shied away from any genre of film over his career – from drama ( Trainspotting) to sci-fi ( Sunshine) to horror ( 28 Days Later) to Hitchcock-esque thriller ( Shallow Grave). And let’s not forget the lovely Millions. But Slumdog Millionaire is arguably his finest hour, a beautiful tale about love and destiny set in Mumbai. From the arresting visuals, to the thumping soundtrack, to the fresh narrative style, to the engaging performances, Slumdog is a rarity in cinema these days. I still can’t get over the fact that it almost went straight to DVD. If Boyle doesn’t get it, look for Milk’s Gus Van Sant to emerge victorious.

Animated Feature Film

Nominees

Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

Brian’s Take

Who Will Win: WALL-E

Who Should Win: WALL-E

Wild Card: Kung Fu Panda

Pixar has proven itself over and over and WALL-E is no exception (should have been in the running for Best Picture too). The film is beautiful and sends a great message (we need to stop killing the earth with our materialistic ways). I put Kung Fu Panda as the Wild Card but it really has no chance. On another note I am disappointed Horton Hears a Who! wasn’t nominated. It was a fun film and had a great animation style and deserves a little more credit than it got.

Suzanne’s Take

Who Will Win: WALL-E

Who Should Win: WALL-E

Wild Card: Kung Fu Panda

I’m surprised WALL-E wasn’t nominated for Best Picture. It’s that good, in fact I think that it’s Pixar’s best film (although Ratatouille is right up there). And yes, it has an environmental message but it avoids being preachy. In fact it’s extremely touching at certain moments, not to mention breathtaking to look at. Another remarkable achievement for Pixar, and the only film in this category deserving of an Oscar.

Best Picture

Nominees

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Brian’s Take

Who Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire

Who Should Win: Slumdog Millionaire

Wild Card: The Reader

Slumdog Millionaire is everyone’s favourite pick for Best Picture this year. From adventure to romance, the film has something for everyone (even a big Bollywood dance sequence). On the flipside The Reader could pull off the votes based solely on it being set around WWII (always a big winner at the Oscars). Hopefully the Academy won’t disappoint us (we’ll see).

Suzanne’s Take

Who Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire

Who Should Win: Slumdog Millionaire

Wild Card: Milk

It will be one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history if Slumdog Millionaire doesn’t win Best Picture. The beloved indie film has steamrolled over the competition at every awards ceremony thus far and for good reason. It’s an incredible film. I also want it to win so I can see the film’s excited stars get up on stage. For most of them it’s their first big role and any time you see them at an awards ceremony they’re beaming from ear to ear. I hope Oscar night brings more golden glory their way.

The 81st Annual Academy Awards airs Sunday, February 22 at 8PM EST on ABC.

Related Links

Oscar Parties in Toronto (via blogTO)
Toronto Oscar Party Guests Get Swag Bag For A Great Cause
OSCAR.com

Image from The Reader and The Wrestler courtesy Alliance Films. Image from Slumdog Millionaire courtesy Fox Searchlight Pictures.